# Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have the following in place.

#### Agent Version Requirements

* **Minimum Java Version**: Java 8 or higher
* **SeaLights Java Agents**: Latest stable version (recommended)

{% hint style="success" %}
Use the latest stable agent version to ensure compatibility and access to the newest features. Check the [release notes](https://docs.sealights.io/knowledgebase/agent-release-notes/) for version-specific requirements.
{% endhint %}

#### Downloading the Java Agent

Download the latest version of the SeaLights Java Agent. 

There are two agent files

* Build Scanner - sl-build-scanner.jar
* Test Listener - sl-test-listener.jar

These agent files can be downloaded from: <https://agents.sealights.co/sealights-java/sealights-java-latest.zip>

Example CLI commands for downloading the SeaLights Java Agent:

```bash
# Download the latest Java agent
wget -nv https://agents.sealights.co/sealights-java/sealights-java-latest.zip

# Extract the agent
unzip -oq sealights-java-latest.zip

#validate the agent version
echo "Sealights Java Agent version used is:" `cat sealights-java-version.txt`
```

{% hint style="info" %}
Instructions for downloading a specific version of the agent can be found [here](https://docs.sealights.io/knowledgebase/setup-and-configuration/sealights-agents-and-plugins/java-agent/default-usage-cli/downloading-the-java-agent#downloading-the-specific-agent-version-defined-in-customer-settings)
{% endhint %}

#### Access Credentials

You'll need an **Agent Token** to authenticate the agent. See [Generating a Token](https://docs.sealights.io/knowledgebase/setup-and-configuration/getting-started/steps-for-successful-onboarding/generating-a-token#token-management-2) for detailed instructions.

{% hint style="warning" %}
Keep your agent token secure. Do not commit it to version control. Use environment variables or a secrets manager in production environments.
{% endhint %}

***

### Next Steps

Once you have your credentials and access to download the agent, proceed to Phase 1: Core Coverage to begin collecting coverage data from your application.


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# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.sealights.io/knowledgebase/phased-onboarding/java-onboarding-guide/getting-started/prerequisites.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.